All music composed by Sepultura
All lyrics written by Max & Andreas
Lyrical assistance and translation by Fletcher McLean & Scott Burns
Synthesizers by Henrique
Sound effects created by Kent Smith (Soundsmith Productions)

Sepultura has always had an incredibly straightforward approach to writing music. This is not to say that their music lacks complexities, in fact quite the opposite, but it does mean that their songs are structured in a very accessible manner. This album is no exception as it contains every element you could want from a Thrash Metal album and yet doesn't sound clichéd for a moment. The Death Metal leanings of their previous three full length efforts are far less obvious and on this album they hit the mark perfectly between their earlier style and the tribal feel which would emerge later on in their career.

IMO it's the best Sepultura album and also one of the best thrash metal albums of all times !

True.
This album is very nice.. My favorite Sepultura track of all time is in this album, Dead Embryonic Cells, which was one of my first Metal song I've ever heard..Also Arise and Infected Voice are my favorites..

Great Thrash Album. I love how this band more or less did what I never thought possible with thrash;combine unrelenting energy with a somewhat inhibited, intelligent approach. So many thrash bands seem to try to hard to "broaden" their sound with acoustic passages or changes to their melodies mid-song, but sepultura just seemed to do it right.

"This has to be the best thing I've ever heard", was my first thought listening to this masterpiece work of art.

Without hesitation, I can say that this is Sepultura's best album! Not only is this a great thrash album, but it's an amazing listening experience that I think anyone would be able to enjoy. The reason as to why I say this is because it not only holds on to their thrash influences, but they're also able to make some very good songs out of this.

Trust me when I say that the first time you listen to this album that you will be impressed. You can listen to the first 3 or 4 tracks nonstop without any anticipation of pressing the pause button. For me, this album is just hypnotic by how, well... perfect it is! This here has probably just got to be one of the best albums ever made! This album was so impressive that it ended up in the book of "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die."

Sepultura has indeed moved forward with this album and was further able to develop their own style and evolve. You can see many new influences coming out on this album whether it'd be their groove or industrial influences, you could tell that it worked out very well indeed. "Desperate Cry" could probably express this the most with how much variety that their is in the song

The songs are just amazing! You can listen to the first track "Arise" and it probably won't even take you all but maybe the first 5 seconds of riffing that you'll know that you're in for a treat. "Dead Embryonic Cells" is also quite a masterpiece itself from its impressive drumming, riffs and lyrics. "Desperate Cry" is probably the most epic thing you're probably going to hear on this album too, as already explained. "Murder" is a great song to thrash out to with the speed/intensity and chugging riffs. There can be much more said about the songs, but why should I explain all of them when all that needs to be said is that you just NEED to get this album! There is not one single filler track and every song on this album has some form of passion being poured out on it.

Severely front loaded, which is sort unusual for an album this heavy. Good solid thrash though. Once again riffs and drums pound.

I really can't agree... the second half of the album is just as awesome the first half. In fact "Altered State" (which is the song that opens side 2/b of the vinyl and cassette releases) is my fave song on the album. And "Under Siege" and "Infected Voice" are as strong as any song on the first half of the album. Heck, "Meaningless Movements" is a killer thrash song too!